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The Iodine Group | |
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IODINE AND THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
Iodine has been used effectively therapeutically in pathologies for which the immune system is known to play a role. Moreover, there is evidence that iodine is accumulated in diseased tissue.
One significant body of research shows that iodide can be used in a potent anti-microbial process involving a peroxidase, hydrogen peroxide, and a halide. This anti-microbial process quickly kills bacteria, viruses, fungi, and various other micro-organisms.
This process has been studied in neutrophils, an abundant type of white blood cell important in the defense of the body against infection.
Iodide is significantly more effective in this process than the other halides, but chloride may be used more often because of its ready availability.
Iodide is accumulated during phagocytosis, the process of engulfing and ingesting bacteria and other foreign bodies. The iodide is attached to the bacteria and to proteins, creating iodoproteins including monoiodotyrosine (T1). Sometimes, the thyroid hormones are utilized as the source of the iodide.
Various groups of researchers have focused on different parts of the iodine-immune connection.
Venturi has looked at how iodine has been used therapeutically in various pathologies in which the immune system is know to play a role. They discovered that the effect does not depend on iodine's action on the micro-organism responsible. Their research indicates that an adequate iodine intake is necessary for normal retarded immune response. The molecular mechanism by which iodine increases immune response was not identified.
Klebanoff has discovered a system in neutrophils, similar to the thyroid's system for making thyroid hormones, that utilizes a peroxidase (myeloperoxidase), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and iodide. Klebanoff found that myeloperoxidase has potent antimicrobial activity against bacteria, fungi, viruses, and mycoplasma when combined with H2O2 and iodide, bromide, or chloride. It is strongly toxic to HIV-1.
Woeber investigated what happens to thyroid hormones during acute infections. When phagocytosis was induced in the leukocytes, T4-deiodination was greatly increased. Moreover, the accumulation of undegraded T4 was increased by the phagocytosis.
Stolc discovered that several iodinated proteins are secreted by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes during phagocytosis, including significant amounts of monoiodotyrosine (T1). T2 and T4 may also be created in small amounts.
Lehrer found that the myeloperoxidase-iodide-hydrogen peroxide system was rapidly lethal to fungus, including several species of candida. The candidacidal activity was inhibited by fluoride, cyanide, and azide.
Miller looked at the radioiodine concentrations in apparently normal and inflamed tissues of cows. He discovered that the iodine concentrated in the diseased tissue. Moreover, the thyroxine (T4) disappeared faster in the diseased cows.
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